A seriously ill and emaciated claimant who had to leave his hospital bed in February to argue for his award of ESA to be reinstated has died of his illnesses, it has been revealed.
Stephen Smith’s case hit the headlines in February when images of the desperately ill claimant, who weighed just six stone, were shown in the national media.
At the time of the decision to stop his ESA, 64 year old Smith had COPD, osteoarthritis, an enlarged prostate and used a colostomy bag.
In spite of developing pneumonia, Smith discharged himself from hospital for the day in order to attend an appeal hearing at which his ESA was, unsurprisingly, reinstated.
Tragically, it has now been reported that Smith died last week as a result of his illnesses.
A friend of Smith told the Guardian that he never recovered from the pneumonia he was suffering when he attended his appeal hearing.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Stephen Smith.
“We are committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they’re entitled to.”
